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Recently, Lincoln and his now 3rd grade class previewed this winter’s upcoming TV episode. At the

conclusion, a classmate asked if he gets to fish again. Lincoln’s enthusiastic response was, “yep, Mike
said see you again next year!”

So back to this story’s start and “today’s kids.” Kids haven’t changed all that much! But, the
environments they often grow up in sure have.

Put a rod and reel in a youngster’s hands with a fish pulling back and you’ll still see the excited “tug of
war” as Lincoln calls it. If, however, we adults never take kids fishing, how do they experience that
feeling? It’s not fair to later “blame” older kids and young adults for their lack of fishing or hunting
interest, if they never had the adult-driven initial exposure to the outdoor sports.

Now, about those phones! If our desire is to raise kids who fish and hunt more and aren’t so tied to
their electronic devices, why do we supply kids those devices at early ages and give them nearly
unlimited use? Seems to me we cause the problem, and then blame the kids!

I’m not pointing fingers here, because if blame is merited, there is more than enough to go around for

all us adults. My point, rather, is that many kids still love the outdoors and many more will in the future,
IF given the exposure to such. And, early and often exposure is sure to help!

Now, time for me to get off my soap box! Meanwhile, my buddy Lincoln and I are planning this coming
summer’s fishing trip. Please consider including a youngster in your next outdoors adventure.

Mike Frisch hosts the popular Fishing the Midwest TV series and is a co-founder of the Bass Pro Shops
and Cabela’s School of Fish. Follow Fishing the Midwest on Facebook to see more from Mike.